Parental Responsibility Order

Subject to eligibility, a range of people can apply for a parental responsibility order for a child under the Children Act 1989:

A child’s unmarried biological father.
A child’s step-parent.
A child’s second female parent.

A parental responsibility order can, subject to eligibility, be sought in a number of situations, including:

Birth mother refuses to register the unmarried biological father on the child’s British birth certificate.
Birth mother refuses to register a same-sex female partner (non married/non civil partner) on the child’s British birth certificate following fertility treatment at a UK fertility clinic where HFEA consent forms validly nominated the female partner as the child’s second legal parent.
A step-parent seeks parental responsibility for a child having married the child’s legal parent.

Applications for a parental responsibility order can be legally complex and can lead to hard fought legal disputes, particularly for modern and blended families and those formed through assisted reproduction.

We have preeminent legal expertise in advising, obtaining, restricting and defending applications for parental responsibility in respect of a child. Our founder, Louisa Ghevaert has litigated numerous leading cases in this complex area of law.

How We Can Help

Our legal services under English law include:

Legal packages
Bespoke legal advice tailored to your situation, needs and wishes
Preparation of legal documentation
Legal support and representation in court proceedings

Package One

Parental responsibility and status for a new partner in a blended family – legal review

This provides expert legal advice for blended families seeking to explore and confer parental responsibility and status upon a new partner or step-parent for an existing child.

It:

Advises on parental responsibility, status, identity and the legal and practical issues and implications arising.
Advises on legal options, process and timescale for conferring parental responsibility and status on a new partner for an existing child.
Carries out a legal and practical benefit and risk analysis.
Answers legal and practical questions.
Creates a tailored legal and practical action plan.

Note:

This consultation does not provide medical advice. It only provides initial specialist advice on parental responsibility, fertility and family law in the UK (and not law in other jurisdictions). It does not include preparation of legal documents. Terms and conditions apply. For further legal advice and assistance consider our other legal packages and bespoke legal services.

If you wish to discuss your situation or you require legal assistance please contact us.

+44 (0) 20 7965 8399

Bespoke Legal Services

We also provide further and ongoing tailored legal advice, assistance and representation in legal proceedings concerning parental responsibility in the English Family Court, including: